Topic Reading-Vol.1486-5/6/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Across China: China targets tourist misbehavior

Tour agencies are like schools and tour guides play role as teachers. When it comes to disciplines and manners of Chinese tourists, that’s what seems to be needed. Travel agencies have to “educate” tourists to act in a civilized way and avoid unruly behavior, such as picking up luggage before the airplane stops or making too much noise in public places in their homeland and abroad.

But there are more ethical issues that should be educated by their parents, such as how to use toilets or wasting food on the buffet table. Yes, Chinese aren’t the only people who become unruly or reckless when they are buying things or being customers. But wouldn’t it be so difficult to be a little considerate or nice to others like they are to their friends?

It’s not hard to imagine what those Chinese fishermen are doing in the international waters or poachers doing in Africa.

Enjoy reading and thinking who should be teaching ethics and moral to children and adults. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-04/30/content_24984178.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1485-5/5/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Identity 2016: 'Global citizenship' rising, poll suggests

It’s an unclear question. If you’re asked if you identify yourself global, you may wonder what “global” means. Does it mean to be open to travel to or work or live in other part of the world, or to accept anyone from other countries to your community?

Without specifying what “global” means, a research was conducted to 20,000 people in 18 countries. It found that people in growing countries seem to consider themselves more global than those in established countries. That may be because those globally-minded people are interested in going abroad to see, experience or even learn in other countries.

But the respondents of the country, namely Germany, which took a large number of immigrants last year consider themselves nationally minded rather than global.

Enjoy reading and thinking if you’re more globally minded or locally minded.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-36139904

Topic Reading-Vol.1484-5/4/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Public gets first inside view of the nation's tallest building

Another skyscraper in Shanghai. The Shanghai Tower. This about-to-complete tower is 561 meters high, even taller than three other over-400-meter tall buildings in the busy city and will be the second in the world only after Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

It’ll take a less-than-a-minute ride to the observation deck on the 121^st floor, though the admission price hasn’t been announced yet. There is a reception desks on the 101^st floor for the only hotel in the building that occupies from 84^th to 115^th floors, meaning the guests may stay in the rooms higher or lower than the reception floor.

If you’re interested in dining at 556 meters high above the ground or swim in a pool nearly 400 meters from the ground, you should plan to book a table or sign the membership soon.

Enjoy reading and imagining what you may oversee from the observation deck. 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-04/28/content_24911275.htm

Topic Reading-Vol.1514-6/3/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Chasing the light: 2016 National Geographic travel photo contest entries

Do you like taking photos when you travel? If you do, do you print or share them with others? Maybe when you’ve taken good ones worth showing to others.

Some people, even though they aren’t pros or experts, do take astonishingly gorgeous photos that make yours look dull. And there are contests to gather impressive photos of people and things around the world that were taken while traveling.

Enjoy seeing some of the beautifully shot photos entered in this year’s National Geography Travel Photographer contest.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/25/travel/national-geographic-travel-photographer-contest-2016/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1483-5/3/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Incredible new views of an over-photographed city

Hong Kong is famous for its skyscrapers and night view. The city is more densely built-up than any other city but Singapore. People there seem to spend more time on going up and down in the buildings than moving on the ground.

With the aid of a drone, distinctively different kind of photos of this popular dense city are taken by a native Hong Konger. The skyscrapers look absolutely stunning and breathtaking. They look colorful in daylight but beautiful with electric-lights.

Hong Kong looks not only busy and crowded but also elegant, at least in a way.

Enjoy seeing the photos of this dynamic city.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/25/travel/aerial-hong-kong-photography/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1482-5/2/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Harriet Tubman will be face of the $20

Race and gender. These are always extremely controversial issues in America. Some may think Americans are over-sensitive, over-reactive or over-engineering to the issue that can be settled without the intervention of the law or public debate. But they are indeed essential aspects when they decide who to represent important things or events such as banknote or movie. A recent example is Star Wars, whose new episodes are played by more women and non-white men compared with the previous ones including the main two characters.

So when it comes to the figure to appear on a banknote, there won’t be any easy way to reach a consensus. This time, the US Department of the Treasury announced that Harriet Tubman, a former slave who turned into a civil activist will appear on the front of the new $20 bill.

Whoever appears in the front or back, the value is no larger or smaller than the amount printed on the banknote.

Enjoy reading and learning about this amazing woman.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/20/news/10-bill-hamilton-20-tubman/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.1481-5/1/2016

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Who are Islamic 'morality police'?

How conservative or restrictive a state could be? It seems Sharia, Islamic religious law, is strictly enforced to practice in some Muslim-majority countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia by deploying dedicated task force to police public places. Those rules include public socializing between unmarried men and women, wearing headscarf too far back on the head or exposing any other part of the body but eyes.

As more non-Islamic cultures and life-styles become popular around the world, religious conservatism seems to hardens its position. Such moves are also seen in Hindu society like India.

But is policing religious order and obedience mandatory to observe a religion?

Enjoy reading and thinking what matters more in day-to-day life in modern world.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36101150